[flyingmochi]

OK, so my dad has had insomnia for about a year now and he feels like really crappy.
It's gotten so bad that he made me write this to ask for some suggestions
He has tried several various medications and none of them work.
Except for valium, but that only keeps him asleep for about 2 to 3 hours.
Also, natural remedies don't work for him.

But drinking beer helps a little x) However, he's not going to drink beer everyday!
So unhealthy! And he's trying to lose weight. Beer is not the way.

OK, so some medicines that he tried but don't work are:
- Desyrel
- Serax
- Celexa
- Pamelor/Aventyl
- Ativan

He thinks that his problem is stress-related, by the way.

Any ideas on how to help him sleep better?

[Aestas]

what's his lifestyle like?

[Mokufee]

Yeah what's his lifestyle?

[muse.]

I don't know that much about medications, but I'm assuming your dad has already gone to see a doctor? I'm looking at the list of medications that you listed and they're mostly anti-depressant and anti-anxiety pills. Do those work the same as sleeping pills (Lunesta, Ambien)? If not, maybe your dad should try taking sleeping pills.

[ayuu.919]

Your poor dad =[.
I have insomniac too so I know how it feels like. But thank god it's not for a extended period of time; It happens periodically.
You should tell your dad to go to the doctor or try sleeping pills if all ends fail.
Tell him to change his sleeping position like sleep on his back if he always sleep on his sides.

[flyingmochi]

My dad says he has no lifestyle -___- He says it's just work, work, work.
He's been working for twelve years now and we've family problems since last August.
Things have gotten better, but he still cannot sleep.

And yes, he's been to the doctor many times. But none of what they give him works.
He has tried sleeping pills already, including zolpidem. Doesn't work.

[Regina Rae]

I would recommend Doxepin. But then again, I wouldn't. The side-effects are pretty bad. Super dry mouth, confusion, graphic nightmares, strange thoughts, stomache pain...ect. But it does work. I took them for about 2 months, and I slept well. But the side effects got to me so I stopped taking it. He could use Doxepin every once in a while. But I wouldn't take it all the time.

[Keiyun]

My dad says he has no lifestyle -___- He says it's just work, work, work.
He's been working for twelve years now and we've family problems since last August.
Things have gotten better, but he still cannot sleep.

And yes, he's been to the doctor many times. But none of what they give him works.
He has tried sleeping pills already, including zolpidem. Doesn't work.

I think what he needs is a vacation.
Some relaxation time, without needing to think about work.

It's strange how the medications don't work on him, though. o_o

[faithpuppy]

He works all the time? O-o Maybe that's why he can't sleep because he never relaxes. Maybe he should do something tha can help he relax like meditation or yoga?

[Aestas]

what about exercise? maybe he isn't burning enough energy to feel sleepy when night comes...

[J'adore]

My mum was an insomniac, don't let it get worst is all I can say. It got so bad my mum became depressed and she was admitted to a mental institution. She said she had weird dreams about her dead uncle around the time she started losing sleep. So she was serious, they used electroshock therapy for her treatment but now she's on anti-depressants which she has to take for the rest of her life...

I don't know a cure for insomnia but I have a friend, he works full-time and has long days and finds it hard to sleep so he drinks tequila every night. I know it's bad but I don't know any other ways to cure insomnia.

[flyingmochi]

He really can't take a vacation. He owns his smog check thingy thing business and is our family's main income.
It would be just a disaster if stopped working even for a little while.
Like last month, he was sick and we weren't able to pay for our mortgage. EH.
Yeah, had to right a hardship letter :|
If only I was old enough to get a job and if only my older sister wouldn't be such a lazy moocher.
Then, my dad could have a little vacation.

But anyway, he hikes a couple times a week and he jogs sometimes in the afternoon.
Then he watches Jumong on mysoju.com I think that's all he has time for.
I'll tell him about yoga and Doxepin.

AND OH geezy Dx J'adore, electroshock therapy? That's horrible.
I'm sorry about your mom's situation. I'll definitely try to prevent my dad's condition from getting worse.

[itrayya]

maybe he should sleep on a soft mat on the floor.
i mean, sleeping on the bed may be to soft and causes his body to not sleep well?

my uncle couldnt rest well too because the bed was soft, of course,
and it just kinda cushioned his bones and body,
but after he slept on the floor for a while, his body felt better.
i guess it's be hardness and FLAT surface of the floor.
it may sound hard but i cant explain it well.

but i hope your dad feels better.
i know my opinion is whack but just wanted to throw something in to help.

good luck.

[Clu3less]

when i had trouble sleeping i used to eat a little snack with a glass of warm milk. that always helped me until i became lactose intolerant XD

[sus]

hm the reason why he cant slp becasue he s got too much stress
thinkin bout work and if he gets sick he cant support the familiy
its a big strain on him since he has all the responsibility

maybe ur mum can get a job ... or urself if ur old enough n help out?

usualli exercise makes me slp.. but i dun have other 'issue's keepin me up at nite..

[kuku]

Other than the benzodiazepines, I've noticed he took an SSRI Celexa. If he is depressed, this I cannot determine, he has to take this drug for at least 2+ weeks before it takes effect.

Most of those drugs are very sedative or hypnotics which should knock him out.


The cheapest remedy would be to take Benadryl. This drug knocks me out so facts and I really want to sleep.

[plumerias]

Does he have any time to exercise/work out?
It helps reduce stress a lot, plus it could help him with his weight loss.

[happyboy]

It's stress. Think of it this way, if he's doing so much for the family that he cant even sleep, think how much the rest of his body is getting wrecked (ulcer etc)

The main thing is to eat healthy and get some exercise. No stimulants (caffeine, chocolate etc) and no eating after dinner. If he could go out and walk after dinner or play golf (something non-strenuous but still active) he'd be able to fall asleep much easier.

Also if there's noise in the house like kids playing music or TV he can hear from his bedroom then cut that out after 10pm when he goes to sleep

[HikariJung]

Um my dad had something similar. I'm not sure if you're dad has the same thing or not but I'll write it anyway.
My dad had this thing where he couldn't sleep completely like on the day they tested him he woke up 137 times. So yeah.....not good. It's called Sleep Apnea....I think
Anyway he went to a doctor and they gave him this machine called a CPAP. It's like this thing that blows air into your nose and out your mouth....it's helps you breathe. And he's never had a problem since.

I dunno know if it helps or not....hope you're dad gets better. I mean I couldn't sleep a while ago and like I slept 24 hours in a week.....and I felt like I was gonna die of exhaustion haha

[AsobiSeksu]

My dad says he has no lifestyle -___- He says it's just work, work, work.
He's been working for twelve years now and we've family problems since last August.
Things have gotten better, but he still cannot sleep.

And yes, he's been to the doctor many times. But none of what they give him works.
He has tried sleeping pills already, including zolpidem. Doesn't work.

my uncle was like you dad. he was an insomniac and he would just take prescribed medicine and it didn't work. and this was like years of medicine. then until two years ago, he was diagnosed with early dementia. there is no cure for this. he lost most of his old memories. and he cant speak properly. its really sad. he can never sleep again(like 8hr sleep). he only takes 8-20 min naps.

just make sure your dad isn't taking too many meds at one time.